Markus. I bring grave news. It seems…several of your Bonded have been kidnapped.

  Nicholas’ words ricochet around my mind. The sensations from my dream come back to me like a gut-punch.

  I must have truly been in River’s head, somehow drawn there across the massive distance between us and able to observe the moment in person. I close my eyes for a moment and swallow, allowing the memories to come to the fore.

  Everything went black, there was a sweet smell, and then she fell…. I open my eyes and look at Nicholas bleakly. “They were ambushed and drugged.” He eyes me oddly.

  “How do you know that?” He doesn’t question whether I do know it, only how. Good. I don’t have the time to waste convincing him.

  “I saw it,” I tell him simply. “But I thought it was just a dream.”

  Nicholas’ eyebrows fly into his hairline.

  “Is this the first time you’ve seen from behind the eyes of one of your Bonded in your sleep?”

  I nod.

  “It’s not the first time it’s been accidental, though. But it is the furthest. We can talk about that later, though. What do you know about the attack?” He eyes me for a moment and then gestures to me with one hand.

  “Come. There were only the barest of details in the emergency message which I received. I intend to speak to the captain directly now. Join me,” he invites. I nod sharply and follow him closely, as do the rest of my companions.

  Was Mother there? Lathani frets.

  “I don’t think so,” I reply slowly, only realising I’ve spoken out loud when Nicholas turns towards me with a frown on his face. It clears after a moment – he must realise what I’m doing. No, I’m pretty sure she wasn’t, I answer next. Kalanthia would have been an obvious presence, wouldn’t she?

  What about my other cub? Bastet worries next, nudging hard enough against Ninja that the younger raptorcat almost falls over. She doesn’t seem to mind, though, and returns the comfort-seeking with almost as much force.

  Trouble was there, I tell her bluntly, though it spikes both Bastet’s and Ninja’s worry up even higher. There’s no point in coating the truth – they’ll find out sooner rather than later. Along with his two pack members. So were all three Pathwalkers, the two Warriors, Pride, Loran, Artemis, and Orion. I don’t think Ivor, Noir, Kalanthia, or Aingeal were present.

  At least, I didn’t see any signs of them. But what if they were taken in a separate attack? Could there have been two strikes?

  We enter the parlour, and head straight for a mirror set in the wall near the fireplace. Nicholas places a hand on its frame, his index finger resting on a carven rune. It glows under his touch and the light bleeds into the mirror itself. The image ripples and is replaced by a completely different room.

  “My lord!” an unfamiliar voice says, and then a new face enters the frame – I vaguely recognise her as one of the servants who I saw in the manor. “Who would you like to speak to?”

  “Get me the captain, please,” Nicholas orders her.

  “At once, my lord.” She hurries out of the frame and we hear the door open and close. We wait in tense silence.

  “It shouldn’t be long,” Nicholas tells me. “He will be expecting me to contact him to discover the details.” I nod briefly, but remain silent. At this point, I don’t trust anything coming out of my mouth – the more time goes by, the more likely it is that I’ll shout or scream instead of anything constructive.

  The seconds tick past like minutes, scenarios whirling around my head. I touch the Bonds of those I know are missing every few moments, checking that they’re still there. I’m relieved every time I touch them and confirm their continued presence, but the numbness I feel is worrying in its own way. I have to make an effort to touch them, and even then I can sense no more than that they exist. Will I even feel it if one of them snaps?

  The anxiety from the rest of my Bound doesn’t help – even if Lathani’s worries have been slightly assuaged, she’s still anxious for her friends. Bastet is worried about Trouble, as is Ninja. Realising that our anxiety is feeding off each other, I pinch the Bonds mostly closed, reducing the amount of emotions passing between us. Immediately, I can breathe again – perhaps Nicholas has a point about not allowing emotions to flow uncontrollably through the Bond network.

  Movement catches my eye.

  “Captain,” Nicholas greets.

  “My lord,” he acknowledges, his expression stoic. Then his eyes shift over to me and flicker with understanding. “Lord Markus.”

  “The emergency message you sent indicated that Markus’ Bonded have vanished – suspected kidnapped. We need more details,” Nicholas orders.

  The captain inclines his head. “Yes, my lord.” His eyes move to meet my gaze in the mirror – the look in them is grim. “Four days ago, your slave came to me. He said a group of your Bonded wished to leave the estate to visit the village.”

  My stomach twists. Whose idea was that?

  “You let them go?” The words are harsher than I intend.

  The captain doesn’t flinch. “In light of your order that his words be taken as your own, when relating to your Bonded, I complied. I assigned guards to accompany them. Given their lack of familiarity with the village – and the same in reverse – I felt it appropriate.”

  “How many?” Nicholas presses.

  “Three on the first visit. Enough to reassure the villagers and ensure no…incidents.” His gaze flicks to me, cautious. “Reports say the villagers were wary, but not hostile. Your Bonded behaved respectfully. However, there was a complication.”

  The knowledge that my companions behaved appropriately is relieving. The word ‘complication’ is not.

  “What complication?” I demand.

  “They were followed,” the captain tells me calmly, but not without a hint of frustrated anger.

  The word makes my skin crawl. My Bonded have been in danger for days and I wasn’t there to protect them!

  “By who?” This time, I don’t regret my harsh tone – hopefully the captain will realise that it’s not really directed at him.

  “We don’t know. My men tried to capture them, but the shadows vanished. We concluded that either powerful Skills or restricted devices must have been used.”

  Nicholas’s eyes sharpen.

  “Not common villagers, then,” he infers.

  “That was my conclusion as well.” The captain’s jaw tightens. “I increased the guard after that. Five in total, two of them Classers – enough firepower to handle most situations.”

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  “You should have forbidden them to leave again,” Nicholas snaps.

  “I considered it, my lord,” the captain admits. “But a conversation with your heir’s slave suggested they wouldn’t listen unless the order came from him directly.” His eyes return to me. “From what your slave and my own guards told me, the…sarans? Samans?”

  “Samurans.”

  “Yes, those. Three of them found it greatly educational to visit the smith, the Enchanter, and the Alchemist.”

  I sigh. Of course. No wonder they were so keen to return, come hell or high water. I find Loran’s judgement to be accurate – I’d have had to actively forbid them from leaving, and even then I wouldn’t be certain unless I used the Bonds to enforce it. It explains more of the dream, too.

  “They’d have gone, regardless,” I mutter, rubbing my temples. “It would have taken more than being followed to dissuade them from pursuing their studies if they’d found willing teachers.”

  The captain inclines his head.

  “That was my judgment also. I thus attempted to offset the risk by providing more guards. I would have sent more but it risked weakening the manor’s defences.”

  “You made the right choice, Captain,” Nicholas assures him.

  “So what happened today?” I ask impatiently. What do they know that I don’t?

  “That is what we are still investigating,” the captain answers. “My five guards returned to the manor – alone and with stories of an attack.”

  “Why did your men not pursue immediately after they recovered from the attack?” Nicholas demands.

  “None of those I sent specialises in tracking. When they couldn’t find any traces to follow, they deemed it more useful to return to the manor and notify me. That allowed me to send out a search party with a more appropriate composition.

  “What did they find?” I demand, unable to keep silent.

  “Traces of Skills and alchemical tools – which matches with what little my men have told me. Unfortunately, their memories are muddled and they saw very little. There was no blood, nor have we found any bodies. The death-energy detection device is not registering anything either. Thus, I conclude that it was a carefully planned kidnapping.”

  “Death energy?” I ask Nicholas quietly.

  “When something dies, it releases an amount of death energy, relative to its level of advancement. We have a device which can pick up large deposits of death energy – if any of your Tier two Bonded were killed, it would detect the site as long as the device is in close enough range. Your Tier ones are unlikely to be advanced enough to pick up, though.”

  I touch the Bonds again one by one, paying particular attention to those of Trouble, Blaze and Spot. Relief goes through me as I find their presence.

  “They’re all alive,” I confirm. The captain nods, a flicker of relief over his face.

  But Nicholas isn’t softened. He leans forward, eyes sharp.

  “Your report indicates that my heir’s group of Bonded were watched, tracked, and then successfully ambushed and abducted under the very eyes of your men. You told me earlier that no guards were killed or taken with the Bonded. Thus, I conclude that the guards who travelled with them are either incompetent – or complicit.”

  The captain’s jaw tightens.

  “With all due respect, my lord, I do not make the same assessment.”

  “Explain.” Nicholas’ voice is cold.

  “My men noticed the initial watchers. And those who were with the Bonded at the time fought the enemy. Their reports all describe a sudden wall of incredibly hot fire – alchemy, most likely – separating them from the party. By the time they were able to make it through the blaze, the Bonded were gone. This was a professional job, my lord – carefully timed, and with expensive supplies. My men did what they could, but we were not expecting something quite so high level, especially when there had been no other incidents since the first day. If you deem there to be fault in the matter, it is mine for not appropriately judging the risk.” The captain is tense, but determined. I admire him for being willing to take the consequences on behalf of his men.

  But my admiration can’t stop the chill that washes over me at the implications. Professionals – expensive professionals, most likely. Who would organise this?

  My thoughts turn towards the duel – and the challenge I offered Torrent afterwards. It can’t be because of that, I tell myself. This started three days ago. If it’s Torrent, it implies that he was always intending on doing this. But even if it’s just an enemy I’ve inherited along with the mantle of Heir of Titanbend, it means that my choices have put them in danger.

  I force my voice out, low and rough.

  “Why? Why take them?” I don’t know if I want to know the answer.

  Nicholas looks at me sharply.

  “Come now, Markus. Why do you think they would take your family and spirit them away without a trace? If they had killed them, it would have been a demonstration of their power. A kidnapping, however….”

  My jaw clenches and dread joins the guilt that curdles in my belly. I might be a novice when it comes to noble politics, but I understand the concept of leverage well enough.

  The next question is: What exactly do they want me to do – or not do? And it’s one that neither of us can answer right now.

  The captain clears his throat and breaks the moment of silence.

  “On the topic of the watchers having more information than they should have…there is another possibility beyond my own men.”

  He seems slightly reluctant to speak.

  “Go on,” Nicholas orders, his eyes hard. The captain flicks his eyes towards me.

  “Your slave. The thief.”

  “Loran? What does he have to do with it? Wasn’t he with them?”

  The captain inclines his head. “Yes, my lord. He was among those taken. But that doesn’t necessarily mean he is one of the victims.”

  I frown and lean forward.

  “Say what you mean clearly, captain.”

  “He was the only human in the group,” the captain answers carefully. “The only one able to speak freely with my guards. A convicted criminal. And the newest addition to your household. He was also the only one who could communicate with the rest of your Bonded.”

  I felt my chest tighten.

  “You think he was complicit?” My mind races with the possibility.

  “I think it must be considered,” the captain replies, his tone level. “For those such as him, loyalties change cheaply. I trust my men; he is the other most likely source of useful information.”

  “Loran wouldn’t do that!” I object, bristling at the suggestion. Though I can’t silence the little voice inside of me which asks if I really know that. We met in the Battle of Wills, we touched souls, I remind myself. But the hint of doubt persists.

  “The captain has a point,” Nicholas muses. Seeing me bristle again, he shoots me a sharp look which makes me subside slightly begrudgingly. “Even if he wasn’t complicit before, his abductors might value his ability to communicate with your Bonded and offer him something he won’t refuse – like his freedom.”

  I turn to look at Nicholas fully.

  “Except he’s Bound,” I remind them and myself at the same time. “You’ve said it yourself – the only person who can break a Dominate Bond is the Tamer, right?” Nicholas hesitates and my eyes narrow. “Right?”

  “We shall discuss this later,” Nicholas tells me firmly, his eyes flicking to the captain briefly. “Anyway, it’s also possible that there is coercion of some sort involved – either prior to their capture or after it. We will not know until you are able to command him to speak truthfully through the Bond.”

  I nod shortly, accepting his point even if I refuse to entertain the possibility seriously right now. Innocent until proven guilty – the captain might see his criminal past as a reason for him being a traitor, but I won’t be so prejudiced.

  Of course, if Loran is the reason the abductors were successful, nothing will stop me from taking it out of his hide. But…innocent until proven guilty.

  “Can you confirm who remains in the manor, captain?” I ask, redirecting the conversation.

  “Your large nunda Bonded is present, as are the two dragon-like creatures.”

  “What about a small ball of fire?”

  “Your fire elemental?” The captain suddenly looks nervously uncertain. “I cannot say, my lord. It…the servants have seen it melding with the fires in various parts of the manor – they have almost got used to having it dart out at them at random moments. Without extinguishing every fire and checking whether it is in one of them, I cannot say for certain whether it is here or not.”

  I nod slowly. Aingeal is still ‘alive’ – that I can tell. Anything else is uncertain.

  “Thank you captain. Is there anything else you can tell me?”

  The man is silent for a moment before he shakes his head.

  “No more at present, my lord. We will continue the search; I will contact you if we have any new information.”

  “Make sure that there is always someone on duty in the room in case we call,” Nicholas orders.

  “Yes, my lord,” the captain says. Nicholas removes his hand. The rune he was touching goes dim; the image ripples again. When the surface steadies again, it reflects only the room around us.

  “Now you know as much as I do.” Nicholas looks tired, even if it’s not even nighttime yet. He glances at the time-candle. “We must get ready for the ball – it starts soon.”

  “We?” I ask incredulously. “You can’t honestly think that I’ll go to a ball when my companions, my family are in danger?”

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